We know that kids can sometimes take time getting settled into a new school year. It’s a big transition for students, parents and teachers alike, particularly if your child is starting school for the first time, has additional learning difficulties, social anxiety or sensory needs. But there are strategies that can help make the transition easier for everyone, even before they've even stepped through the school gates. Below is a list of recommendations from our Occupational Therapists and Therapy Assistants. 

1. Make the school environment familiar. Drive or walk by your child’s school with them. Create a visual social story with pictures of your child’s classroom, teacher, playground and toilets. It's likely the school already has these images ready to go.

2. Practise your child’s daily routine. Create a visual schedule they can tick off. Get them involved in making their lunch and laying out school clothes the night before. Wearing their school uniform and shoes during imaginative play sessions will help them process the transition and alert to any sensory issues. Many children find chewing a calming action, so fixing a Chewigem product to your child clothing or stationery can help.

3. Find resources that promote mindfulness. We recommend books such as Be Where your feet Are, Soda Pop Head & Don’t Be Afraid To Drop

4. Make sure your child has a place they can go, where they can decompress. If they feel overwhelmed, classrooms often have reading corners or breakout rooms, which you should identify at an orientation day and make sure your child is familiar with it. A body sock may provide a calming space for those children who need assistance with self-regulation and body awareness. Chat to the teacher to see if this could be used as a calming strategy if needed.